Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-02


 Law. The oystermen who favor the retain ing of the commission will be heard on some day set apart for them. The supporters of the bill will again be heard tomorrow after noon.
 A protraeted hearing took place before the committee on judiciary this afternoon. The first matter taken up was House bill pro viding for secret ballot. Other hearings have been held on this bill and much interest has been manifested. The hearing was held in the ante-room of the Senate chamber and was largely attended. Representative Hendrick appeared and advocated the bill on general principles. Alfred Walker of Hart ford, made very strong speech in favor of a secret ballot. He introduced and advocat- ed substitute bill, which was simpler and more modified in form than the original. The substitute bill met with much favor among members of the committee. It does not provide for the stereotyp ped envelope, but allows them to be procured by the selectmen of the towns. It also provides secret de- posting booth to every two hundred inhabi- tants. Senator Coffin spoke in favor of the original bill and said he believed something should be done. Every safeguard the State could enact should be thrown around the sanctity of the ballot box. MI. Pyne, of Hart ford, was strongly in favor of a secret ballot. It is not improbable that some sort of 8 secret ballot will be recommended. The committee next took up the bill punishing fraud on the Grand Army of the Republic. All the o1iginators of the bill now ask for is permission to punish all persons who use the Grand Army badge for the purpose of getting help. The bills concerning employ ment of armed men (not citizens) by incor- porations were givien a hearing before this committee. Representative Hunie, who in- troduced the main bill advocated it in strong terms Messrs. Connors Baker and King advocated it also.
 There was quite a surprise caused at the Capitol to-day by Governor Lounsbury s nomination of William O. Seymour, of Rfdgefeld, as the successor of Railroad Com missioner Bacon, of Danbury, for the term of four years from July 1st next. MT. Seymour is native of the town in which he resides and was one of it's repre- sentatives in the General Assembly of 1863 For many years he was principal of the Ridgef cid High Ridge institute and for twen- ty years was engaged in civil engineering. During twelve years of that period he was engaged in the location of Connecticut rail roads and located and constructed more than four hundred miles of track. The law re- quires that the board of railroad commission CTS shall include one civil engineer in it's membership, and MT Seymour takes the place of Mir Bacon in that capacity. He is spoken of by those best acquainted with him as a gentleman of sterling integrity and of more than ordinary experience and familiarity with railroad engineering.
 House bill 236 prescribing punishment of criminals on third conviction was set down for hearing before the judici- ary committee this afternoon. No one ap- bearing to be heard on the matter the hearing was adjourned. There were two bills booked for hearing before the committee on hu- mane institutions this afternoon. One pro- vided for the protection of buildings of the Industrial school from fire and the other related to the protection of the public health. Both hearings were postponed. Prof. Francis Wayland of New Haven, president of the Connecticut Prison association, appeared be- fore the committee on appropriations this afternoon and urged a slight increase in the appropriation to the prison fund for the pur pose of procuring overcoats for the prisoners who of necessity were obliged to work out of doors.
 LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
 Tomorrow Wednesday, the House select committee on constitutional amendment will consider the question of having State officers chosen by plurality vote instead of a ma jor- ity vote as now, and at 2 p. m. the committee on woman suffrage will hear the bills now pending concerning woman suffrage as fol lows: House bill 174, relating to woman suffrage. House bill 172, exempting unmar- ried women from taxation. House bill 13O, conferring on women the right to vote at SCQOO1 ulSIElCJ IuocbluSS 11OuSC b41A 4SO3 conferring on women the right to vote in towns on questions pertaining to the sale of intoxicating liquors. House bill 77, asking the right of woman suffrage.
 The committee assignments for tomorrow Wednesday, will be: Agriculture, bill that the dairy commissioner shall enforce the law against adulterated molasses; constitutional amendments, resolution regarding election ot State officers by plurality vote; finance, bill concerning tax commissioner; judiciary, bill that deputy registrars in New Haven be elected by ballot; labor, bill that children under thirteen years may be employed on certificate from selectmen; temperance, bills defining intoxicating liquors.
 Below will be found summary of the business transacted in the House and Senate
 The Senate.
 The Senate was called to order at 1s:3o 8. n. Lieutenant Governor Howard presiding.
 Referred to executive committee-A communica- tion was received from Governor Lounsbury nomi- hating William O Seymour, of Ridgefeld, rail 1887, vice Mr. Bacon, of Danbury-
 Senator Hill offered 8 resolution appointing Will Washington bridge of stratford. Referred to com mittee on roads and bridges.
 Senator Bailey offered resolution reappointing Anthony Ames of KillfngIy, member of the State board of education Rules suspended and resolu ion passed.
 The calendar was then taken up.
 Passed-IncorporatIng the Seymour Manufactur dam, and the Higganum Cemetery associa- tiOn.
 Bill that applications for pardon or release of State prison convicts shall be heard at the State prison (the bill to take effect it's passage), tabled on motion of Senator Staub.
 A resolution amending the charter of the Derby horse railroad tabled.
 The resolution restoring forfeited rights of Henry E. Baker, of Killingly, passed.
 The Senate at 1:65 adjourned until 10:45 Wednes- day.
 The House.
 Speaker Hoyt called the House to order at 1 D.
 Reports of Committees-Militar affairs-Favor- able on resolution regarding record of Connecticut volunteers. On bill providing for trumpeters. Ad- resolution concerning uniform of the Gov ernor's Guard; no legislation being needede Re jected.